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After delayed start, Doubront slowly gaining confidence

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Emotions were swirling for Red Sox lefty Felix Doubront as he took the mound on Monday afternoon for his debut of this Grapefruit League season.

For the first time in Doubront's Major League career, his mother Nancy was on hand to watch him pitch after flying in from Venezuela on Sunday.

"Oh yeah, that was a big surprise yesterday. I was so happy to see her here," said Doubront, who gave up one hit and fanned two over 1 2/3 innings of the Red Sox's 5-1 win over the Rays. "She wasn't supposed to get here until today. When she came the first time, I was hurt in 2010, I think."

This time, Doubront was glad not to be hurt, but the southpaw admitted he was still a little guarded about the left shoulder weakness that delayed his first outing by about a week.

"Well, I was a little bit [hesitant] today," Doubront said. "Every pitch, I was focused more and was a little bit scared to feel something. Everything went well."

Doubront can now start focusing on pitching again.

"Yeah, as soon as I wake up, I'm going to raise my arm, lift my arm to see how it's feeling, but I feel good," Doubront said. "I'm going to let the guys know and do some more work, and hopefully everything's going to be OK."

Doubront is projected as one of Boston's five starters in 2013 after being in the rotation all of last year.

"I'll start throwing more innings here and start facing more hitting and start gaining my confidence," Doubront said. "I'm 100 percent confident, but I have to feel 100 percent ready to pitch. That's what I'm doing now. I'm working hard every day to feel that way."